(1874-03-07) Shadows Under the Mountain Pt 3
Shadows Under the Mountain Pt 3
Summary: The Aequorians ride to Murias to meet with the Arkanins…
Date: 07/03/2018
Related: Shadows Under the Mountain Pt 1, Shadows Under the Mountain Pt 2
NPCs: Sir Lawrence
Players:
Aislinn  Ludovic  Mercy  Myrana  Xavier  

Bellmoore Castle, Murias, Capital of the Duchy of Arkanin

Once past the courtyard and through the large, wooden double-doors one will find themselves inside the grand foyer. Expansive, the walls tower, placing the ceiling fifty feet above the floor, the supports of which are made by perfectly-formed timbers made of a local wood. Windows are spaced evenly along the walls that face the exterior grounds, each paned with a clear glass that affords quite a bit of light as well as a lovely view of the gardens. When the sun sets numerous candles are lit, each waxy pillar set in sconces, giving off a glow that is golden and warm. Tapestries and paintings have been hung, each depicting historical events and people, all serving as good reminders of times of hardship as well as those of great victory.

The stone floor has a long, well-made runner rug that runs along its center, perhaps guiding one to the throne room, the entryway from which the castle proper was entered. Corridors, stairways and other doors also lead to other locations within the building.

07 Mars, 1874 IE

The travel from Brexos lands to Murias were far less eventful than anything that happened prior. The road from the Valley houses of Brexos, Anders and Lee is far better maintained and they made good time, arriving only three days later. It is now midday, and after shedding their mounts and given an hour to clean themselves up and eat, the party of Aequorians has now been summoned into Bellmoore Castle, the seat of House Arkanin. Guards bearing breastplates and carrying glistening spears on their shoulders escort them into the throne room, where they will be met by… someone. Who's to say?

Mercy has been cleaned, wearing a very nice black courtly dress with blue embroidery, though the dress does give off a naudical look, with a military styled coat over that dress, marking her as both Countess of Arcadia, as well as Admiral of Arcadia's Fleet, though, some would go on to say she is probably admiral of Aequor's fleet, though, the king hasent said she was, so she doesn't presume. Leaning over to Ludovic, the perfume she wears a soft scent, but still probably expemsive. "A Throne room? I mean I do business on the deck of my ship… but a throne room?" She asks in a hushed tone.

Ludovic ate enough to feed three grown adults before changing into the courtly clothing he packed specially. In this case thats a slashed black doublet over a voluminous blue silk shirt. A brooch in the shape of a bullhead flanked by lightning bolts holds a half-cape in place at his shoulder. He's happy to follow the guides into the castle proper, considering them a good sign. When Mercy states she does business on her ship he casts a smirk across at her. "Ah but thats navy business Mercy. This here is the business of state." His fingers move to tweak the high collar on his doublet. "Least it was before this whole business with Brexos anyhow." He casts a smile across at Aislinn. "Thanks for your company so far. That knowledge you picked up about the hanging is likely valuable."

Two other guards, these flanking the doorway to the throne room, open it up and… it's nearly empty. The fireplaces roar, keeping the air warm and comfortable, but other than their crackling no other sounds can be heard. The throne itself is empty, too. Sitting next to it on a lower seat, though, is Brigadier Sir Xavier Arkanin. The Rabid Wolf belies his name, clad in a silken green doublet with gold borders, a cup of wine in his hand and a pensive look on his face. These pensive looks are rare enough. His dark brown eyes fix themselves to the open door and he watches the party come in, not rising all at once. Once they get closer to him, though, he pushes himself from the chair. He bears no smile on his face, but then again, he rarely does.

Mercy stops once the Lord rises and she gives a curtsie to him. "Lord Xavier." She says in a respectful tone before righting herself and stepping back.

An hour to be divided between food and hygiene sees Aislinn, perhaps predictably, devoting the lion's share to the former. She does take some time, though, to wash up and clothe herself in the proper courtly attire of a d'Roux - which is rather difficult to distinguish from her usual clothing, as it apparently consists of the same bearskin cloak over hunting leathers, but with the addition of a feminine doublet over the lower layers. Finn, on the other hand, has changed attire to look the part of a courtier of modest means but high aspirations, though the other two Caltu are still dressed as if preparing for a raid. Tiarnan accompanies the barbarian troupe as they prepare for the meeting. She nods at Ludovic as he addresses her. "Aye, I supposed it was best to know why they're roundin' folk up before you find yourself bein' said folk," she remarks as she follows at the flank of the group. She pauses to give the brigadier a look, head tilting to one side for a moment. Eyes flit aside to Mercy as she curtseys; the d'Roux heiress doesn't imitate the move, especially as she's not wearing a dress, but gives a dip of her head in respect.

"Not so sure that knowing why you're being strung up offers that much consolation." Ludovic replies to Aislinn just before they stop at the doors. He pauses and then strides inside, eyes flickering to take in the surroundings. Seeing that Xavier is mostly alone he chooses to offer the Brigadier the traditional greeting of one knight to another rather than delving into the minutae of courtly courtesy. When Mercy curtseys there is a flicker of doubt but it doesn't change his choice. Like Aislinn he's trailed by Faith but he has not brought anyone with him unless there is a darn good reason to have done so. "It's good to finally meet you Lord Brigadier. Wish we could get right to the business that brought us here but there are things we have to tell you about Avenches and Lord Brexos."

"You two, I know. You're the mad pirate Countess, and you're my new war partner, I hope. Knock some savage heads off of their necks." Xavier says gruffly, his eyes flitting from Mercy to Ludovic, face falling back on its instinctive frown. Finally, he rests his gaze on Aislinn and her group. "But you and your lackeys I don't. Short on the courtesy, too. Hah! I'll bet you've got some kind of redeeming quality." His laugh is harsh. "Well. What do you say? You took your time. I'm sure it's good." Of Brexos and Avenches he says nothing, evidently waiting for their report.

Mercy blinks. "Pirate? Nay… Privateer." She says with a smile, of course, then the talk comes to the last three days. "Apparently, one of your vassels sees fit to cause strife in his lands. Though what is to be done with him, about him, or that whole mess is your juristiction." She says as she hands over the scroll to the Lor,d and actualy dusts her hands off as if said scroll was a filthy thing.

"Wasn't the 'strife' that delayed us, although it could've." Ludovic says plainly. "It was the weather. We got unlucky with our timing." He smiles. "But not with our partnership I hope." He gives a subtle gesture and Faith the Elementi goes over to a corner and lies down. "It seems the town of Avenches has decided that they wish for a new liege Lord."

He looks to Aislinn as she is pointed out and then back to Xavier. "Lady Aislinn is representing her house here today. I'll have to take the fight to the mountains if I ever want to reclaim any lands beyond the pass. And the d'Roux are likely the best mountain men near my borders"

A small smile plays across Aislinn's lips as Xavier laughs at her. "Lady Aislinn d'Roux, Lord Brigadeer Sir Xavier Arkanin. Daughter of Baron Bearach d'Roux. Hopefully I at least got the titles right; I'll work on my curtsey for next time." She folds her arms across her middle. "Our redeeming quality is an affinity for killing uncivilized invaders. I'm here to represent my father in coordinating against the Qatunax. This is Tiarnan" - she indicates the Elementi at her side - "and this is my husband, Finn," she says, indicating the Caltu at her other side, who gives an uncertain bow, hands behind his back.

"Pirate's just a privateer with a royal marque. I don't care, anyways. Not like you're going to sail up and attack Murias." Xavier laughs harshly. "My daughter's jurisdiction. I'm not the Duke anymore." He listens, rather patiently for a man whose byname either has a rabid or ragged variant of wolf in it. The laugh certainly suits either, depending on mood - right now, it's more inclined to rabid, given what follows it. "It's good that I don't stand on courtesy. I like people who can kill my enemies, and you obviously can. Since we share enemies, Viscount and Lady Aislinn, then we're on the right path." On the topic of Avenches, he smirks. "I don't blame them. Lord Brexos is a poncy idiot. He's a good farmer and he brings in lots of money to the Duchy, and he manages his pike and horse well. But he's insufferable."

Mercy nods. "Well, if that business is taken care of, and no longer our concern, Ludovic, shall we move ont othe gusiness at hand, mainly the blood drinkers that think they can come int our lands and take what they want?" She says with a frown. She might not actualy have lands there, but she is a vassal of the Crown, and family to ludo, and that's good enough for her to want to help.

"Avenches were decent hosts." Ludovic tells Xavier. "So we did them the favor of bringing that letter. I'll offer any assistance you want towards resolving things quickly as well." He gives a quick, easy, smile. "Though I'd be surprised if you wanted it." He nods to Mercy. "The Countess is right. If we've finished with Avenches, we really should move onto the issue of the Qatunax. I imagine we'll need a few days to go through everything but I would like to reaffirm my intention to work with the Arkanin on this. Theres been a lot of steps made to make things good between our two Houses and I'd like to see that continue."

Aislinn's left eyebrow arches as she listens to Xavier and her own compatriots. Her arms remain folded. "The Mayor of Avenches did release five of the Brexos soldiers that the militia took hostage as a gesture of goodwill to House Arkanin. We brought them with us to deliver to your custody. They may be able to tell more of what happened," she adds.

Having waited for a moment on introductions, Sir Xavier finally takes the scroll that was handed to him out of its case, breaks the seal easily after a momentary inspection and reads it, ignoring his guests for a moment. He's not one for social graces, either, though a pair of servants appear to bring chairs over to the area that they congregate in and, soon after, wine. It's a very good wine, likely from the same Valley that the party has just emerged from.

Xavier's lips move downwards immediately. "They've got balls. That lowborn mushroom of a mayor must be a regular in filthy taverns throwing dice. Hang the taxmen, kidnap the soldiers? Hah! You know what that little bastard said? He said he'd rather be a vassal of the Duchy, not even the County! And that the town would be happy to pay more tax than what they were listed at required for Brexos. Cheeky little bastard!" His frown disappears and he cackles. "The savages, we're on the same page as. But what my lovely daughter the Duchess will have to suss is what to do of this."

Ludovic has no issue with Xavier taking the necessary time to process the information in the letter. He moves over to the delivered chair and makes a pleased sound at the taste of teh wine but doesn't talk until Xavier's done explaining things. "He explained as much to us, Lord Xavier, and had obviously planned it out before moving. He had a significant force of levy and militia and made certain to provide us with food and hospitality from the first moments we arrived." Ludovic explains. "I made a point of suggesting he release all the prisoners. I even took the time to explain how holding them would be viewed but he thinks he needs them to keep Lord Brexos from burning them out. Fives not enough to do anything but they will be able to give you more information at least. Thats why we brought them here rather than seeing them taken back to Lord Brexos." He takes a moment to wet his mouth with some more of that wine and then adds. "Thought about fighting one side or the other but once the men you had assigned as our escort returned to us I figured it really wasn't any of my business."

Mercy pffts and looks between the other nobility. "This shouldent have gotten to this point in the first place. If I may be so bold, hand Brexos and the manyor as a sign that arms shouldent be taken until problems were brought to you first. Then, put a steward in charge of the lands, his office right near the gallows where the other two were hung.. as incentive, and then give the lordship to someone worthy. But.. that my opinion on the matter and I will say nothing more…" She says as she looks to Ludovic. "…on dealing with vassals who over reach their station." She smiles and does take the seat, as well as the wine. "Not bad… Tess… bring in those bottle for the Brigadier." She says as her mainservent/cabingirl nods and dashes off, comming back with two bottles of Arcadian Red, and two of Arcadian white, and a bottle of Two rivers Bourbon. "A gift for your hospitallity M'lord, the Bourbon is very good, I'm told it has much more volume than Ulsen Brandy, perhaps if you wish to have somthing over Duke Tarris in the way of.. ahem. spirits, a trade negotiation is in order, once this savage mess is delt with."

The d'Roux daughter shifts her weight a bit to one side as her lips quirk. "Avenches has good walls and good archers, from what I've seen, and they seem mighty loyal to the mushroom in charge. The people were celebratin' in the street after the tax-men were hanged, but I suppose no one is friends to a tax-man. It's like to take a long siege to take the city by force and hang the Mayor. And I don't see much cause to hang Brexos, if he's a good steward and commander."

Myrana has been with the others all this time, and being so quiet and polite that she almost wasn't there at all! Miracles.

Myrana folds her hands in the lap of her skirts. "The Mayor seemed a sensible sort of man. Perhaps those tax-men were abusing the people of Avenches," she hmms softly to herself, eyes narrowing to thoughtful blue slits and letting her head tilt to one side, causing her snowy braid to whisper across the back of the provided chair like a serpent in the grass. "I've never had the pleasure of meeting Lord Brexos myself, but I was rather favorably impressed by the mayor, even if he does have questionable taste in muscle."

"Sir Lawrence isn't an idiot. Why I told him to do the deed with you, kept you outta trouble. Whatever that Mayor's base birth, he's not stupid. Part of me wants to burn him out and sack the town. Part of me wants him some kind of reward. We need those kind of stones in our times." Xavier replies to Ludovic, rolling the scroll back up and handing it to a steward. His frown returns. "Hang my daughter's own fucking nobleman? Is that how you do business up in your Arcadia? Pfah, it's a wonder you get your vassals to follow you with a stupid idea like that!" He doesn't seem offended by the suggestion, though. "Come! Let's drink. The d'Roux has the right of it. I march my little army down there at Brexos's braying and now that's hundreds of spears I can't use to give savage heads a nice perch on. And I want my spears to drip with their blood."

He sits down almost immediately, and grabs at his cup, draining it. The servant refills it. He refrains, though barely, from draining it again. "Now, there we have it, Countess! I'll make sure you go back with a crate of Valley wine. All of you three, actually. If it's good, we can talk trade, but it'll have to be river, and you know who that means." It remains unspoken - either he means d'Armaz, or Kentaire. The rivers that touch Wayston either come up from Fiorello, or through the Principality. Xavier claps. "Like I said before, Lady Myrana. Brexos is a poncy one, but he's good for Wayston for more than one reason. Can't just dump them when we get bored."

"Right. Well, I'll make sure that my daughter's got all the cards in her hands so she can decide whose head to skewer, if any. On to the savages. We could speak for two months on those bastards." Xavier begins.

Mercy sits back once that is done, and let's ludovic and Xavier talk about what to do, since she is really there as a diplomac, and not a military commander, since her command strength is on the water, and not in land based battles.

"I don't want anything overly complex." Ludovic says. "Simply to work together to coordinate our forces. That way we can support each others weak points and make use of each others strengths." He drains his own cup, following Xavier's example, and waits for a servant to refill it. "The rest depends a lot on exactly what happens in the peace talks. As soon as its clear they are going the way we think they are going, I plan to request the Legions drive them out. We'd still need to work together on driving them out of all the various hidey holes up in the mountains though." A moment and he looks to Aislinn. "You can confirm the reports of goblins Lady Aislinn? Lord Finn?" Looking back to Xavier he says. ""I thought that once we've got that formal agreement to continue allying against the qatunax we could take a day or two to sit, pour over the maps and troop numbers and work out how we are going to go from holding them still to pushing them back."

"That's very kind of you," says Myrana with a wry little smile. Open up trade with Xavier? She can hear her father now and she hitches one knee atop the other with a rustle of skirts, leaning back into her chair and smelling the cup in her hand, eyes glazing over a little. Not because of the fine nose- oh no. Nono. There is a scenario playing out in her imagination while she appears to be paying polite and active attention. It is all a lie. Trade with Arkanin. Trade what? Good cashmeri and lumber for burnt oat tops and emaciated horses? A smile tugs at her lips and she doesn't catch it quite in time, so to cover for this she goes 'mm' appreciatively and sets her cup down. Diplomacy.

Mercy takes out one of her folding fans, An admiral is still a noblewoman after all, and slowly taps it along her wrist and the back of her hand, opening it up a few times and closing it, right in the line of sight of Myrana. Signaling the d'Armaz Heiress.

Aislinn takes a cup of the wine she was offered before and takes a long sip, more measured in her imbibing for the present than previously. Her husband, in the meanwhile, finds himself a spot to sit and begins to scribe notes onto a roll of parchment. Aislinn remains quiet and attentive until Ludovic calls upon her specifically. She and Finn both look over at Ludovic at the same time, the latter apprehensive until Aislinn speaks to him in the Barbarian tongue. <He wants to know if the goblins are real,> she says. <I'll speak for you?> Finn looks at Ludovic and nods his head quickly.

Aislinn turns back to Ludovic. "I can show you our collection of goblin-heads if you come visit the hillfort, Your Excellency. House d'Roux and Clan Aodghan have been fighting them for years. Not sure which is worse between them and the Qatunax."

The servants are on top of refreshments. Some pastries and cheese come out, and the wine cups are kept topped up. It's likely that they long ago learned not to anger Sir Xavier. Whatever Myrana's interest in trade, Xavier has already banished it from his mind. He's got wine and food, what else does he need right now, anyways? Military matters. Wine gets him thinking about blood, the brute. "We rely on those outsiders and we shouldn't be surprised if they stick a knife in our backs. Anyways, let's plan like we've not got those fucking Kentaire snakesheads that we've just spent a few years battering with our swords. You and me. What about your Duchess? She kicking in any troops? Haven't seen too much of her cavalry. You used to be one of them, eh? Thunderbolt boys, we call you."

Aislinn gets a curious look. "How do they bleed? Do they come at you in groups like men, or do they skulk in the shadows? Or swarm you like ants?"

Summoning a slight blush to her cheeks by some Aequoran sorcery, Myrana slips a hand into the front of her warm kirtle and draws out a small sandalwood fan, which she twirls nimbly between her fingers like a pencil, still neatly folded. The green tassle swishes up! and arcs down to wrap smartly about one delicate wrist with the momentum.

"My husband has seen them," Myrana intones, meaning the goblins. "I was not there, but he told me that they came out of the cedars like locusts, in a swarm."

"Squealing and thrashing, like most things," Aislinn answers Xavier's first question between sips of wine. "Bit of each, I'd say. The ones we get in the wood 'round the barony are skulkers. Paint themselves blue, like to ambush folk and fill them with arrows. We were doing that first, so it seems the bastards can learn from their betters."

Her nose turns up at the thought before she adds, "I was shot by one once. Their arrows are shite, but the poison nearly killed me." She looks aside to Myrana and nods her head. "The woad goblins swarm once their arrows are spent. And from what stories I've heard from the Caltu, there are other tribes in the mountains, each different."

At that time, the castellan of Bellmoore Castle comes in and announces to the guests, very formally, that supper is ready. Happy to dine, Sir Xavier immediately rises from his seat and claps his big, calloused hands together. "Let's eat, then! Talk after." And he leads the way. The dinner is a nice affair, full of Wayston delicacies. They are perhaps simpler and less ornate than food elsewhere, but no less delicious. The wine and ale flows freely. More guests join them for dinner - some high ranking knights of the Duchy and several figures from the Arkanin County which shares Murias as a capital with the Ducal house, too. The Duchess herself is not present.

Viscount Cervantes of the County of Murias ahd heard news of the town of Avenches….and how they've appeared to have gotten into a little squabble with Brexos. That said? He decides to pay them a visit. Though he is not dressed in his armor, it's certainly with him…just on another horse. This is a peaceful visit after all. But that doesn't stop him from bringing with him about 30 armed men of his elite spearmen. His raven hair pulled back into a ponytail, his attire like that of a mixed casual with the idea of royalty. It is black in color, with silver decor all about and a simple collar around his neck. He does wear a silver necklace with an opal jewel in the center and a massive greatsword on his back. he rides a warhorse, likely the steed he's had since he could truly ride.

Though after checking out the situation over there with both scouts and personal inquiry, an exhasperated and slightly annoyed Cervantes returns home. It takes him a few day,s mind you, but he returns! He is given a warm welcome by all who passes him and he smiles when he sees everyone -still- doing their jobs and nothing has so far gone to shit. He's reminded that he has guests, and he nods in thanks. Once he enters the castle, he -is- announced to the speaking nobility so that they arn't caught by surprise. "Greetings and salutations." he says with a beautiful and wide smile, clearly a friendly man. "I pray you've all been treated well while I was away?"

"Good." Sir Xavier replies to Ludovic, grinning back at his smile about the Lightning Brigade. "Huh. Armour and shield yourselves up, I'd say, and crush them with charge." A simple, though not elegant solution. One knows if it would work on the greenskins. He's talking more in theory to Aislinn, than in practice, having never seen a goblin himself.

Xavier's grin spreads when Cervantes walks in, and he greets his kin by marriage by rising from his seat. "Cerv! Good. We're talking about your vassal's woe, and your own woe. Bloody savages."

Ludovic follows Xavier's example of standing politely before settling back into his seat. He glances across at the spread and can't help but feel a moment of concern that it just isnt enough to feed both him and Myrana. "It is a pleasure to meet you again Viscount Arkanin."

Cervantes smiles softly then to both Xavier and Ludovic. "Ah! Xavier, good to see ya." he greets the man wit the brightest smile before his eyes fall on Ludovic. "Viscount Ludovic, a pleasure as well." He takes his seat then and he looks to all present. "Ah, here to discuss our mutual problems." a deep sigh. "Very well. I have just returned from the region after doing a small investigation. They certainly arn't pleased and neither is Brexos." yup, stating the obvious is his specialty. "So then, what options have already been brought to the table? Assuming that you, Xavier, have already suggested fighting." of course, he teases.

Xavier grunts as he sits back down and drinks deeply from his cup of wine. He puts it down roughly on the table and flicks his wrist, a signal for a page nearby to refill it. "We could. Throw stones at their gates until they break down, then ride into the town and kill every last man, woman and child. Drop their rebel blood all over the mountains they live under." He frowns. "What a fucking waste of our troops that would be. So, then what to do? I'm sure Brexos is mewling to you that he's got to avenge his honour. Piss on his honour."

Ludovic also drinks from his wine, watching the pair of them talk. After a few mouthfuls of food and sips of wine he gives up on pretending to ignore things, like a trophy wife, and start talking instead. "You've two choices right? Please Brexos or Please Avenches. Suppose theres other factors in that too but when it comes down to it, thats whats what."

Cervantes hmms softly then as he looks at Xavier, and almost at the same time he says "What a waste of time." well, it's not the first time Xavier and Cervantes has been of the same mind. That said? When the suggestion to piss on Brexos's honor is brought up, he smiles his usual mischievous smile. "I like your thinking. If Avenches is upset with their leadership? Well then I will give them an alternative." he says then. Before he looks to Ludovic. "In my mind, no scenario has me appeasing Brexos." he admits. Seems he's already of sound mind on what he would like to do.

"Give him something, then. I'm not marching the Duchy troops to take that town for his honour. I'd be happier with Avenches paying mounds of gold and silver to us than it burning. We need them. We need their money. We need their troops. Ooh, yes. Best militia in the Duchy." Satisfied with the meal, Xavier leans back in his seat and folds his hands together. "What do you have in mind, Cerv?"

Ludovic nods at Xavier's answer. "Making an enemy of your vassals is a recipe for endless headaches. I'd be careful about giving him nothing."

Cervantes lifts a single hand as if to tell them to relax. "Calm yourselves, I have no desire to leave him empty handed. Be it in land or gold." he says then with a small sigh, "But, as for what I have in mind, if they wish to serve another, then I would offer to take them -directly- into my demesne. He will take it better in consideration, but he will still need to be compensated, but it should quell the anger of Avenches."

Myrana has been silent for some time.

Her stomach though, has other ideas. It makes a sound like a bear caught in math class.

The young D'Armaz flushes and shifts in her seat, knuckles whitening as she gathers a subtle fistfull of skirts in frustration at the much louder honesty of her body.

Myrana considers blaming this on Ludovic the way you'd blame a suspicious odor on the dog; she even looks over at him, and the thought is written in enormous letters all over her face. But then she reconsiders, and clears her throat. "Have you investigated Brexos' tax records?"

Xavier seems pleased by Cervantes' plan. "Good. My daughter's no mind to snatch a town as far away from Murias as Hellsmouth." He grins at Ludovic, and then looks rather flatly at Myrana, his eyes still smiling. "For One's sake, eat something, d'Armaz!"

"I can take Avenches into Hellsmouth if it would make your lives easier." Ludovic says with seeming innocence. Myrana he just smirks at.

Myrana's cheeks deepen, but she reaches obediently for one of the apple tarts. "If Brexos is such a… a donkey that everyone hates him, wouldn't it save you future strife to investigate the claims of abuse against your people? If the tax-men are skimming off the top, it's well that they've been hanged by the mayor's mend, for they'd have been stealing from your Queen. If, however, it was Brexos who took the whole amount from them and then pocketed it himself…"

She turns the tart over in her fingers, shunning the utensils and instead neatly breaking it in two with her fingertips before nibbling at one half. Ludovic gets an embarrassed look; she's obviously holding herself back, for as a sorcerer she could easily polish off the whole sideboard, or make a good go of it. But she's a guest, and she knows how suspicious it is when someone her size puts away two roast chickens and a rasher of bacon and a dozen pears. She's more than a little afraid that this morsel of food will make her even hungrier for the rest of it.

"Well, I would want to know who was stealing from me."

Myrana waves the bit of crust in her fingers. "And moreover, what they're spending it on."

Aislinn has been making the most of the hospitality of her Arkanin hosts, their cooking staff, and their wine selection, which has kept her relatively quiet - speechless, at least - and her preoccupation with a piece of chicken has stayed her graces, too busy eating to properly stand to greet the latest arrival.

"I think that you should appoint someone - what's the word? A steward? Someone between you and Brexos, to sort the shite between Brexos and Avenches for a year, two years if it needs it, then give the reins back to Brexos with a guarantee of amnesty for the rebels. Station a guard there to keep the peace. Embarrassing enough to remind the little lords to keep accountable without underminin' 'em completely." Her cheeks puff for a moment as she finishes speaking before she lets out a belch, then covers her mouth. "Good wine," she comments.

Myrana nods at Aislinn's suggestion.

Cervantes simply grins at Ludovic before he chuckles at Myrana. "Please, eat something." he says then with a smile to her as she starts then. Now then, Cervantes wasn't eating, but he calls for wine and meal for himself. Either way, he looks between Aislinn and Myrana as they throw out suggestions to him. and compliment his wine. "Thank you for the compliment. and yes, this was considered by myself for a small moment. If, however, I discover that Brexos has been corrupted, and is stealing from the Queen via the tax, well….then I would be avenged." he says then, making his intentions upon such a discovery very clear. "I will consider your words, my lady." he tells Aislinn before he takes a breath.

"Brexos paid his taxes to us. I know because Cousin Cerv here made sure that we got what was due to us." Says Xavier, rather sharply at Myrana. "What he did to his own he's paying for now. He makes sure we've got good pike and good horse. All I care about. The rest is for Cerv to worry." He snorts at Ludovic. "Like hell, you northern ponce." The jibe is meant good naturedly - but he's not going to let discussion of Avenches going to Aequor continue. He doesn't address Aislinn's idea. Now that he's got the vassal Count to field these questions, he's sitting back and only saying what he needs to. "Right. My daughter's of same mind as me. Let it get dealt with, if ya know what I mean. Good. Avenches is settled then, eh?"

Ludovic just gives Xavier a good natured shrug in exchange for the minor insult."Isn't that rather a last resort? If this is the first time Brexos has failed to this level then he deserves the opportunity to resolve it himself. Give him conditions if his reaction is likely to be that extreme, sure, but demanding that he hand over all authority on the issue seems heavy handed." He piles some more chicken onto his plate as Xavier suggests Avenches is settled. "That Lady Knight you sent us to help facilitate us working together is an exceptional horsewoman. I've made good use of her skills. I'd like to thank you for picking someone so well suited to my court."

"Admirable concision," Myrana demurrs in purely Aequoran fashion.

True, Cervantes knows full well that Brexos has paid their taxes properly and in full. Because he paid a trip to Brexos juuust to be certain. Either way, the young Viscount smirks softly at Xavier's more…passionate words to Ludovic, eventually lifting a hand juuust in case. "Peace, you two..peace.." he says then with an amused smile. Man, he liked the nobles he was arond today. No pomp and circumstance, just straight shooting. Though for now, he remains silent. Before he speaks. "Yes, the matters related to Avenches is settled. I will handle this." he says then with a soft smile.

"Good," Aislinn says, already returning to her eating. She drops a cleaned chicken bone down to her hound as he waits patiently at the side of her chair. A few seconds later, a crunching can be heard from beneath the table.

"The Valley Houses are good ahorse. Imogen rode with us. Glad she's making herself useful. Why I don't want to lose them. But I don't want to spend more blood than needs. Viscount Cerv will figure it out." Xavier's not called Cervantes by his full name this whole time, but it seems to be a familiar nickname rather than a disparging one. He obviously holds the Viscount in high esteem, judging by the way he's taken his side. "See? Good. Enough about Avenches. The savages. Let's talk back on that. I'm sure Cerv wants that line just west of the husk of Roger's Town to get pushed. And I want to stop thinking of thse stinking savages."

Ludovic glances across at Myrana, notes the tiny portion on her plate, and then shovels even more food onto his own plate. "My first priority is ensuring that our defensive lines are robust enough to handle anything they might throw at us come the thaws." Ludovic states. "Which I think we've gone a good way towards getting but truth is our intelligence on the Qatunax beyond about a half day to a day in is appauling. I've tried to fix it but I've not have much damn luck." He looks to Cervantes and then Xavier. "Have you had much luck yourselves? If I'd a good idea of how many we were facing i'd be more confident in taking more of my men onto the offensive."

Cervantes seems to smile a moment at Xavier. "True, Imogen is a good warrior." clear respect in his voice before he grins slightly. "It amuses me how you're able to read my mind. Yes, I grow weary of having our line sitting there and making no progress. It's time we pushed forward and get them off this land." he says then, a clear fire in his tone. Alas, when Ludovic speaks now, his eyes fall on him. "I personally likely know the same as you. Though I know Xavier has been trying to do his research." he looks then to Xavier as if to gauge his thoughts. "Nonetheless, I plan to learn more of them. If you know your enemy, you need not fear the outcome of a thousand battles."

The next victim of Aislinn's appetite is her wine glass; it takes startlingly little time for the d'Roux heiress to empty the cup, and it isn't her first of the meal. "Speaking of knowing your enemy, it's true that the blood-drinkers brought a burning mountain down on the last army that attacked them, isn't it?"

Xavier shakes his head, downing another cup of the quite good wine that they've all been drinking. "No. Scouts that go there aren't able to see much. They own the hills. And we're not scouting in force, too much. Maybe we ought to. That's a problem. We should send a force in to scout. Not to take back ground, but see what's to see. No idea their strength, how many of them. Did they turn some of our folk into their soldiers?" The question hangs, open to anyone.

His wolfish brown eyes snap to Myrana, and in her silence he asks her, "What about you, d'Armaz? Those Kentairish pricks are quiet now. You've got any lads to throw into this? Once the savages get their taste of the Fiorello, they aren't liable to stop." He nods at Aislinn. "They say it. I've seen magic. It's real."

Ludovic clears his plate of everything but about a carefully untouched quarter-chicken and then pushes the plate over into the space between Myrana and him. Its supposed to be done in that casual sort of way that means nobody notices but he just isn't very good at being subtle. "I havent encountered any of my own men as soldiers." he answers Xavier. "But they could easily be keeping them back out. We've found a few slaves but all they tend to say is that most of them have been herded into columns and moved deeper in." He frowns briefly and then he looks to Aislinn. "It could have been sheer chance I suppose but I don't think it was." And to be honest he knows deep down in his gut it was magic. He's tied to those rocks afterall. "It was too well executed." He looks to Xavier. "Maybe they don't need to actually use our people as soldiers. Not if they can do that with nothing but their blood."

"Fiorello is my father's County," Myrana sets a bone down. If one were to look, they'd see the squab she finally settled on has been eaten completely and rearranged on her plate without anyone likely to have seen her done so: It's all in order, except for a few little fiddly parts she couldn't quite remember how to do for the skeleton. It's missing the head. "I will defer to his judgement-" She pauses, putting the tip of her thumb to her lips to reclaim a bit of sauce that managed to penetrate her table manner's excellent defenses. A smile spreads devilishly on either side of that thumb, and her blue eyes are narrowed to catlike slits. "But I do like that you call me by my name rather than my husbands', as too many are wont to do, so I will see what can be done."

That amusement falters though, as Aislinn mentions the dead, and magic. Her mood sombers again and she looks down at her plate, clamming up uncomfortably.

Myrana does notice the plate slid towards her by Ludovic and gives him a rare appreciative smile, even if its a little muted by the talk of Teleko.

A shiver runs through Aislinn, her face turning into a grimace at the idea. "Well, I suppose bringin' the mountain next to our hillfort down in a blazin' inferno would solve our problem with goblins from the mountain attackin' our hillfort," she remarks as she leans back in her chair. "Though I can't say as whether it'd be for lack of goblins or for lack of a hillfort." She quirks her lips. "I suppose the best we could do is keep in mind that magic may fuck the best of our plans."

"You're your own woman." Xavier states bluntly to Myrana. It's likely meant as a complement, given his blunt nature and the Arkanin's Mountain Garaili penchant for patriarchy. "Tell your father that I'm willing to deal. The past is the past." That's about as much of an apology as anyone will ever get out of the Rabid Wolf. The talk of magic actually has him shut up, for once, though he does say, "They can cast what they like, but we'll put our lances through their guts like they've never seen before."

Myrana takes the quarter chicken and puts it beside the tiny squab skeleton, dwarfing it.

"We just need to keep it in mind." Ludovic says. "In case we ever get the urge to put all our eggs in one basket again.."

Cervantes simply smiled as he sat in the chair of the Viscount, looking about at everyone as they converse and speak about the other matters of the world. Though his eyes fall on Xavier. Wow, wasn't expecting that. Either way, good stuff. Alas, his attention is stolen by the talk of how to deal with the goblins. "Magic is the bane of everything as it stands." given, he's not -presently-= talking shit about it. "It's unpredictable and it only takes one magic user to do an incredible amount of damage to any force." he hums a moment. "Though…the sound of trumping a mountain full of Goblins does sound pleasant." he flashes that fearless grin of his. He always did like to fight.

"We'll sort the goblins without burning ourselves out of our homes, One help us," Aislinn says, straightening in her seat as she does so. She looks up the table toward Xavier. "We've got two lakes and a mountain between us and the savages on our side, and we've been keepin' it that way, but we have some of the best mountain rangers in Aequor. I can arrange to start more aggressive scouting across the shores to learn what we can - what we can spare without coming under threat from the goblins, at least."

"Goblins! Hah, maybe we get them to fight the savages. You think they like the little flayers better than we do? I wouldn't. They're poor guests, and poor guests get hung up on meat hooks in Wayston!" Xavier laughs harshly. He's obviously drunk, and it must have come upon him very rapidly.

"If you're willing to bring in your scouts." Ludovic gives Aislinn a warm, pleased smile. "I'll make sure its worth your while. That you don't suffer for it." He looks to Xavier and then nods. "One of the rumours flying around is that the goblins are attacking them and thats why they stopped, or that the vir sidus are doing it. Can't say I much like that version of events. It rather lessens what Cervantes and I managed to achieve but we can't rule it out. Thats my worry. If they are fighting on another of their borders and we push hard, without a solid defense in reserve, they are going to bring everything they have from another flank and surprise us. We cant know how much of their victory against our first response army was down to their magic and how much might simply have been down to a sheer mass of troops." Xavier's laugh gets a slightly awkward smile from him before he reaches for his own wine. Being drunk always makes other people being drunk better.

Cervantes notices fairly immediately that his cousin, Xavier, is very drunk. Eh, he always was a bit of a drinker, but it was part of his more passive-aggressive charm. Either way, he can't help but smile to him as he sips his own wine. "..it's a good thing we have spare rooms. If any of you require shelter for the night, my halls are open to you." he says then with a smile as he looks arond. "I thank you all for coming and helping solve the matters that plague us so. My gratitude to all."

Aislinn laughs at Xaier's comment. "I suppose I'd better brush up on my manners, then. Were the chickens especially rude about the accomodations?" she asks, jabbing her knife at the largely dismantled and devoured poultry on her platter. It's possible that she's a bit in her cups as well. A whimpering sound comes from the foot of the table next to her, and she looks down. "Don't worry, Tiarnan. They won't be puttin' you on a hook, you're too scrawny to eat." The sleek, well-built and well-fed Elementi tilts its head, then barks.

"Or to their way of war. We got weak, and we got cocky. Knowing that your charge will skewer your foe is one thing, but knowing that if you do it, your horses will be surrounded and you aren't leaving is better. They fight differently from us, and we paid." Xavier has gotten pensive about the whole thing, turning from his merriment sharply, but it seems to only be for a moment. "But we finished Kentaire and Rikton, and now we'll finish these louts. We just need to learn." He nods at Cervantes. "Bellmoore's open for friends, and friends you are. We've come to agreement on things here, and Avenches will be finished up one wya or another, now in the hands of the good Count Arkanin. We'll turn our gaze to the east and take care of that, too. And as for the chickens! They clucked a bit too much, you might say, Lady Aislinn!" He laughs. The laugh fills the room, and some of the knights who've been absorbed into their own conversation laugh too

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